Town Water Rescue Personnel Working Hard!

The Emerald Isle Fire Department oversees the Town's beach lifeguard program, and all Fire and lifeguard personnel receive extensive water rescue training and respond to numerous calls each summer. The period from July 22 - August 1 included dangerous ocean conditions, and was particularly busy for water rescues. Town staff rescued a total of 84 individuals during this time period, and participated in numerous educational interactions with beach visitors.

The Town is proud of our water rescue team, and greatly appreciates their heroic efforts!

NC Commissioner of Insurance Settles Dwelling Insurance Rate Increase

NC Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey recently announced that his office agreed to a 10.5% rate increase for dwelling insurance policies that cover wind damages to second homes and vacation rental units in Emerald Isle and other barrier island communities in North Carolina. The approved rate increase is significantly less than the 39.6% rate increase originally requested by the NC Rate Bureau (the entity representing NC insurance companies).

The Town is pleased that the approved rate increases are much lower than originally requested by the NC Rate Bureau, and appreciates Commissioner Causey's efforts. However, the Town continues to assert that homeowners and dwelling insurance rates are excessive in Emerald Isle and other barrier island communities (as much as 4 - 5 times higher than many other communities in NC), and has repeatedly requested that Commissioner Causey work with the NC General Assembly to implement a fairer rate structure. The Town will continue to work toward this goal in the future.

Emerald Isle Continues to Enjoy Low Property Tax Rate

Emerald Isle is fortunate to enjoy a low property tax rate, and all of us at the Town work hard to provide the highest quality services at the lowest possible cost to our taxpayers. For FY 18-19, Emerald Isle again boasts the 2nd lowest General Fund property tax rate among the 21 oceanfront towns in North Carolina.

Beach Driving Permits On Sale August 17

The 2018-2019 beach driving season begins on Saturday, September 15, and will continue through April 30. Beach driving permit information is now available online at https://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/beach-driving , and permits will be available for sale beginning August 17.

The Town is excited for the 3rd installment of the new Emerald Isle Beach Music Festival on September 29, and has booked another great lineup for this year's event on the beach strand at the Western Ocean Regional Access. Performers include Sammy O'Banion, the Band of Oz, Fantastic Shakers, Chairmen of the Board, the Embers, and the Tams. Come on out and enjoy a beautiful weekend in Emerald Isle!

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2018 Emerald Isle Beach Music Festival. Please contact Alesia Sanderson, Parks and Recreation Director, at asanderson@emeraldisle-nc.org or 252-354-6350 if your business is interested in sponsoring this great annual event. Multiple sponsorship levels are available.

Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative (CCEC) recently unveiled a new online map to enable customers in Emerald Isle and the rest of its service area to monitor the status of power outages. The new tool is available at http://outage.carteretcraven.coop/ , and the map uses data from CCEC's automated metering infrastructure (AMI) meters, substation monitoring system, and consumer calls and reports to show the location of outages.

The map is a valuable tool for CCEC and its customers, media organizations, local governments, schools, and emergency management and law enforcement agencies, and is designed to reduce calls to CCEC's call center during outage events. The map updates every five minutes, and includes number of outages, number of customers affected, cause of outage (when known), and estimated restoration time.­ The new map will be particularly useful during widespread outages, like those experienced during hurricanes and other severe weather events. (Please note that weekend updates will not be available until September 1).

Emerald Isle Property Tax Bills To Be Mailed in Mid-August

Town staff are currently preparing 2018 property tax bills, and they will be mailed out by mid-August. Under NC law, tax bills are due September 1, however, penalties and interest will not accrue until January 7, 2019. For more information, please visit https://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/tax-information and/or contact Gayle Parker, Tax Collector, at 252-354-3424 or gparker@emeraldisle-nc.org .

Street Lights Gradually Being Replaced With LED Lights

Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative (CCEC) provides street lights for all streets in Emerald Isle, and these costs are funded as part of the Town's annual budget. Street lights in Emerald Isle have historically been a mix of high pressure sodium (yellow light color) and metal halide (white color) lights, and CCEC has been gradually replacing blown out lights and installing new lights with LED lights. The new LED lights have a white color, are brighter, and more energy-efficient. CCEC expects to gradually replace all high pressure sodium and metal halide lights in Emerald Isle over the next several years.

New Flood Maps Expected To Be Effective in Mid- or Late-2019

Town staff continue to monitor the status of proposed flood map changes for Emerald Isle, and now expect the new flood maps to become effective by mid- or late-2019. The new maps are mostly very favorable for Emerald Isle property owners, and will likely result in significant flood insurance premium savings and decreased regulatory burdens for many property owners. For more information, and/or to learn about the proposed changes for your property, please contact Josh Edmondson, Town Planner, at 252-354-3338 or jedmondson@emeraldisle-nc.org.

Town Requests Installation of NC 58 Traffic Camera by NCDOT

The Town continues to consider and pursue additional incremental improvements to enhance traffic flow on NC 58 in Emerald Isle, and has submitted a request to NCDOT for the installation of one or more traffic cameras along NC 58. The new traffic camera(s) would be similar to other cameras in place in North Carolina as part of the Travel Information Management System (TIMS)( https://tims.ncdot.gov/TIMS/RegionSummary.aspx?co=92 ), and would enable residents and visitors to view traffic conditions via the internet. This information would enable better trip planning and hopefully help to reduce congestion during peak periods.

The Town's new Dog Park Development Committee recently recommended a 1-acre location in the new McLean-Spell Park for a new dog park, and the Board of Commissioners has approved this plan. The Dog Park Development Committee will soon begin significant fundraising efforts, and individuals interested in donating toward the construction of a new dog park can do so at https://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/dog-park-development-donations . All donations are tax-deductible.

Work Continues on Eastern Emerald Isle Beach Nourishment Project

The Town, Carteret County, and our consultants continue to work toward the construction of a significant beach nourishment project this coming winter, and expect to solicit construction bids in September and October. Assuming favorable construction bids, we expect to place up to 500,000 cubic yards of sand along approximately 3 miles of beach in eastern Emerald Isle in early 2019. Additional sand will be placed generally between the Indian Beach town limits and the Eastern Ocean Regional Access.

New Pickleball Court(s) Planned

The Town continues to receive feedback from residents and visitors requesting pickleball courts in Emerald Isle, and the FY 18-19 budget includes funding for the construction of at least one, and perhaps two pickleball courts at the Town Government Complex this coming winter. Pickleball is a relatively new, fast-growing sport that is sometimes described as a hybrid of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, played on a smaller court than tennis, with smaller rackets, and a plastic ball.

Sponsor a Beach Swing!

The Town has installed new beach swings at the Western Ocean Regional Access and The Point, and these new features are heavily used by many to relax, swing gently, and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the ocean in Emerald Isle! The Town hopes to add new beach swings at many more public access locations in the future, with several new beach swings already sponsored and planned for installation this fall and winter. If you'd like to sponsor a beach swing to honor or memorialize a loved one or friend, please contact Alesia Sanderson, Parks and Recreation Director, at 252-354-6350 or asanderson@emeraldisle-nc.org . The cost is $1,000 per swing.

Check Out "Emerald Isle" Song by Eastern NC Band "Dakota Blue"

"Dakota Blue", an eastern NC country / rock band, recently performed on the beach strand, courtesy of the "Emerald Isle Beach Patrol" (a local social / service group; not affiliated with the Town). This fundraiser performance raised more than $5,200 for the purchase of automatic external defibrillators for the Emerald Isle Police Department. Thank you! Check out Dakota Blue's song "Emerald Isle" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4wrnJQM2U0 .

Emerald Isle Day4Kids - Saturday, September 15

Please plan to join us for the 13th annual Day4Kids on Saturday, September 15 from 10 am - 2 pm. This great annual event will be held at the Emerald Isle Community Center, and includes a fun-filled day of vendors, activities, games, face painting, and more! The entire event is aimed at promoting quality time for parents and kids, and is offered FREE! For more information, please contact Sarah Cutillo, Recreation Program Supervisor, at 252-354-6350 or scutillo@emeraldisle-nc.org .

Did You Know?

The Town has completed 5 significant beach nourishment projects in different areas of Emerald Isle since 2003, with a total of approximately 4 million cubic yards of sand placed! These projects have provided invaluable hurricane protection, created a wide recreational beach, and enhanced environmental habitat.